After announcing last year, it would start a 1GW manufacturing facility in Indianapolis, a lightweight solar panel company Bila Solar will unveil a new product next week at RE+: a 520W silicon panel that weighs just 25 pounds.
“This latest product enables a wide range of installation methods for all types of commercial roofs, including quick connections and removable mechanical mounting – plus it is pre-integrated with mounting hardware and brackets,” said Mick McDaniel, Bila’s VP & US General Manager. “Customers ask us for lightweight PV panels that can be mechanically attached to roofs. This innovative new panel is a testament to our commitment to advancing solar technology and our commitment to making solar energy more accessible and efficient. With our new facility in Indianapolis, we are ready to quickly bring this breakthrough solution to market and support both sustainable energy and the growth of local economies.”
Mechanical mounting option
The UL-certified panel will be available for purchase early next year. It is glass-free and can be attached to roofs using adhesive or mechanical mounting. With 144 half-cut monocrystalline cells and an efficiency of 19.3%, the Bila Solar panel uses a composite frame and front-mounted junction boxes. The panel is 2,246mm x 1,227.8mm x 40.5mm – slightly larger in both width and length than older 72-cell models.
Bila Solar is the American division of lightweight solar panel manufacturers Sunmanwhich operates a 1 GW factory in China. Sunman was founded in 2014 and has 500 MW of installations in Asia, Australia and Europe.
Bila Solar’s Indianapolis manufacturing facility is expected to begin production of all product lines in December of this year.